Australian Board in General Surgery ◆

About the ABiGS

The Australian Board in General Surgery (ABiGS) oversees the Surgical Education & Training (SET) and General Surgery Education & Training (GSET) Programs within Australia, and reports directly to the RACS Committee of Surgical Education and Training (CSET).

The ABiGS consists of the following elected-members:

CHAIR: A/Prof Gabriella Vasica FRACS
DEPUTY CHAIR: Prof Glenn Guest FRACS
SIMG REPRESENTATIVE: A/Prof Christopher Dobbins FRACS
TRAINING CHAIR - NSW & ACT: Dr Thembi Ncube FRACS
TRAINING CHAIR - QLD: Dr Katherine Wilson FRACS
TRAINING CHAIR - SA & NT: A/Prof Harsh Kanhere FRACS
TRAINING CHAIR - VIC & TAS: Dr Sarah Martin FRACS
TRAINING CHAIR - WA: Dr Sze Ling Wong FRACS
SENIOR EXAMINER - GENERAL SURGERY: Dr Carina Chow FRACS
SEAM CHAIR: Mr Akhtar Sayed-Hassen FRACS
RURAL REPRESENTATIVE: Dr Quinton Smith FRACS
TRAINEE REPRESENTATIVE: Dr Joan Tefay
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Dr Robert Whitfield FRACS
GENERAL SURGERY SPECIALTY-ELECTED COUNCILLOR: Dr Gregory Keogh FRACS
GSET EVALUATION WORKING PARTY CHAIR: Prof Vijayaragavan Muralidharan FRACS
GSET WORKING PARTY MEMBER: Prof Richard Turner FRACS
GSA REPRESENTATIVE: A/Prof Kellee Slater FRACS
CO-OPTED CHAIR NZ BIGS: Dr Jeremy Rossaak FRACS
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE: Ms Emma Fogarty

Training Committees by Region

Training Committees are regionally-based and report to the ABiGS. They are responsible for overseeing your surgical training by state or territory, and are there to provide guidance, recommendations, and support via your Regional Executive Officer.

Please select your region for information on Committee members, board meetings, term dates, and who to contact.

ABiGS and each of the Regional Training Committees have elected state-based Trainee Representatives to be ‘your voice’ for training-related matters. They are available to discuss any issues you may have, and provide guidance, support and resources.

ABiGS – Dr Joan Tefay
NSW & ACT – Dr Ernest Cheng
QLD – Dr Madison Bowles
SA & NT – Dr Alicia Lim (2025)
SA & NT – Dr Michael Koullouros (2026-)
VIC & TAS – Dr Edward Clarke
WA – Dr Victor Yau

To get in touch with your Trainee Representative, please email [email protected] for further contact details.

Trainee Representatives